Alice in Chains makes a remarkable return?
Grunge band Alice in Chains came to an abrupt end in 2002 when deteriorating frontman Layne Staley died of a drug overdose. More than a decade later, the group has reformed with an unknown as lead singer.
Normally, this would make me wince. I hate when bands do things like that. But what makes the new Alice in Chains different from say, Journey or Foreigner, is that the band is releasing an album of new material that people actually will buy and enjoy. The group still sounds unmistakably like Alice in Chains, shockingly without seeming to miss Staley.
The single, "Check My Brain," arguably diminishes Staley's legacy by suggesting that, well, perhaps guitarist Jerry Cantrell's songwriting, diving ax grind and haunted-soul vocal harmonies were the crucial elements of the group's sound.
In other words, it's solid. Amazingly so. Very few bands have successfully tried something like this. AC/DC comes to mind. I'm thinking Alice in Chains might pull this comeback off and extend its career indefinitely.
Delicious
Digg
Yahoo- Michael Deeds's blog
- Login or register to post comments
My GOD, I love the sound of bad capstans in the morning!
----------
There is no life in Idaho...it is a mirror site on god's server. You were dreaming but it is over. Go to your residence and await our commands and THEN we will restore control...
AIC
Alice In Chains have always been one of my favorite bands and Black Gives Way to Blue is a very good album. I'm hoping they'll make a stop at the Knitting Factory.